Untitled Document Not for citation without permission from the author: (l.j.skelton@durham.ac.uk) Introduction Kielder in Northumberland, England’s remotest village, has its roots in Kielder Forest, Northern Europe’s largest man-made forest. The first houses, in Castle Drive, were constructed in the 1930s next to an existing railway station. They were built to house forestry workers engaged in establishing a national timber reserve after the First World War. In 1932, the government acquired the Kielder estate as payment of the Duke of Northumberland’s death duties. Experimentation with the first plantings began in 1926. Subsequently, the Forestry Commission transformed this primarily sheep-farming area into a commercial forest employing increasing numbers of men and women. Kielder Forest expanded. Planting was boosted by the introduction of tractors and ploughs in the 1940s. From the 1950s, it produced ever larger volumes of timber. Harvesting was mechanized with the introduction of chainsaws in the 1960s and, more recently, highly sophisticated robotic harvesters.

The Forestry Commission is still a relatively large employer in the area, but increased mechanisation has drastically reduced the labour needed to plant and harvest the timber. Many villagers now maintain their income through seasonal work and multiple part-time jobs in the tourism industry. Kielder Water, the largest artificial lake in the UK by volume, is managed by Northumbrian Water plc. The lake was created after the Kielder dam was constructed between 1975 and 1981, flooding the valley, and thus changing the landscape as dramatically as planting the forest. Kielder Water and Forest Park is now marketed as a single destination for tourists by the Kielder Development Trust. It is run by the Forestry Commission, Northumbrian Water, the Calvert Trust (which organises activity holidays for the disabled), and Northumberland County Council. The park is enjoyed by over a quarter of a million tourists who visit it for various recreational purposes each year. [1] In the last decade, many newcomers have moved to Kielder from far afield, largely drawn to the area’s tranquillity and beautiful, albeit artificial, landscape.

Many of the original villagers who were employed by the Forestry Commission have moved on, thereby undermining social cohesion and community spirit in the village. Moreover, some village houses are second homes, largely unoccupied throughout the year, and essential services such as the post office, village store and Kielder First School are underused. Thurs, over the course of the twentieth century, Kielder witnessed significant and dramatic environmental changes as it was transformed from a pastoral agricultural landscape, to that of a dense, commercial forest and finally it received the addition of a large manmade lake. Since these changes have taken place in living memory, oral history is an ideal tool to analyse them. [2] Kielder’s twentieth-century story provides a useful, unique and revealing lens through which to deepen our understanding of how dramatic changes in the environment and landscape can impact on the social, economic and cultural histories of local places, and how the inhabitants of those places respond to environmental changes. Get a better browser! Map of the Kielder area in the 1920s. Zooming in and out brings up maps of the 1930s and 40s. Seamless historical map provided by the National Library of Scotland .

The Project The Kielder Oral History Project was conducted in October 2012 as part of a wider, national project on the theme of environmental change, ‘The Places that Speak to us and the Publics we Talk with: Shaping Environmental Histories’, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and involving researchers from the universities of Bristol, East Anglia, Durham, Nottingham and York. [3] The researcher and coordinator of the Kielder Oral History Project were greatly assisted in preparing the project and setting up the interviews by Northumbrian Water plc, in particular Andrew Moore and Tonia Reeve, the Forestry Commission, especially Graham Gill, the Calvert Trust, Steve and Julie Webb of Kielder Village Store and Post Office and the residents of the Kielder area. Thanks to all concerned.

The researcher asked a range of questions during the interviews regarding: perceptions of the changing environment; social and community life; recreation and the use of Kielder water and forest as a leisure facility; the use of village facilities; interest in local wildlife; perception of the landscape; memories of employment; the construction of the dam; the expansion of the forest; changes in agricultural and forestry working practices; attitudes towards increasing tourism; and efforts to regenerate the local community and economy with the establishment of Kielder Ltd. The main objective of this focused, local case study was to deepen our understanding of how people who are closely connected with the immediate local Kielder area have perceived, understood and experienced their surrounding environment, nature and landscape over the course of the twentieth and early twenty first centuries, and how the dramatic changes in Kielder’s environment have impacted on their lives, past and present. Thirty-six individuals were interviewed. They represent a diverse and representative cross-section of men and women from widely different age groups, long-term residents and relative newcomers, those born in the immediate local and area and those born much further afield, employees of Northumbrian Water, the Forestry Commission and the Calvert Trust, as well as farmers and employees of smaller tourism-based businesses.

Several individuals who never lived in Kielder, but have worked there or visited for recreational and professional purposes, were also interviewed. The interviews lasted from three to sixty minutes. Five individuals requested to remain anonymous, but they gave permission for all material recorded to be used, except for their names. The interviews generated a wealth of fascinating insights on the subject of the project. Only some representative examples can be included in this concise report. Further publications, to make fuller use of the interviews, are planned. Fig. 1: Year of Birth and Gender of the Sample (36) As figure one shows, the majority of the sample was born between 1931 and 1970, the most common decade being 1941-50. In total, twenty two men and fourteen women were interviewed, a split of 61% and 39% respectively. Google map showing Kielder reservoir and forest in the top window and the lower window shows the Streetview image of the map location indicated with the Streetview icon: . The default location for Streetview is Castle Drive, the location of forestry housing constructed in the post-war period.

You can pick up the Streetview icon and drag it anywhere on the roads that light up blue. This way you can visit the locations of the pins that are on the main road. These pins are indicating locations of interest and clicking on them provides more information about the location, including images. The Dichotomous Village The village, both the original forestry houses on Castle Drive and the newer forestry housing down the hill (see Google map and Street View), known as Butteryhaugh, boasts approximately two hundred residents, a pub and restaurant, post office and grocery store, campsite, tearoom, Youth Hostel, Kielder First School, a library, several commercial workshops, two bicycle hire shops and a self-service petrol station. An infrequent bus service operates a limited service on certain days. The question regarding birthplace demonstrated the diverse backgrounds of residents. Fig. 2: Interviewees’ Birthplaces Most interviewees, 44%, were born over 50 miles away from the immediate Kielder area. The second largest group, 28%, were born within 50 miles of Kielder and only a quarter of the interviewees were born in the immediate Kielder area.

This reflects the large extent to which Kielder’s environment, remoteness and tranquillity is capable of drawing people from far afield to begin a new life in this perceived idyllic community and beautiful landscape. Kielder lies a few miles south of the Anglo-Scottish border and its residents utilise medical and retail services in Hawick and Newcastleton in Scotland as well as in Bellingham, England. Raymond highlighted cross-border social relationships: Oh aye they have a whist drive, … it’s very good because … some of them come … from their home, Newcastleton, they come down and support it so people from Kielder when they … have a one they go up and support theirs you see. Social events are held in Kielder, such as vintage car rallies, leek-growing competitions, bonfire displays, bingo evenings and Halloween events for children.

[4] However, Kielder’s past social cohesion has been undermined relatively recently by the decrease in Forestry Commission employment, the Forestry Commission’s consequent declining influence in community and social life and an influx of newcomers who are necessarily excluded from the strong sense of forestry history, unified identity and shared memories of what was effectively a forestry commission village with an intense community spirit. The inevitable difficulties associated with settling into an established, socio-economically and geographically isolated village can be challenging for newcomers, especially those who have moved from very far afield. The integration of newcomers into the village is affected by the length of time they have lived there. Fig. 3: Table to show how long Interviewees have lived in the area The majority, 53%, are established residents, a quarter has lived there for twenty years or fewer and 22% have close connections to the area through work or recreation, but never lived in the immediate local area.

Keith, who was born in Portsmouth and moved to Kielder in 2002, said that although moving to Kielder was ‘the best thing I’ve ever done in my life’ he didn’t expect to feel part of the community for ‘another thirty years I expect and by that I mean, you know I, I’m from Portsmouth and I think a lot of people here think no he’s, he’s still a damn southerner’. An anonymous retired forestry worker, who was once a newcomer himself, now feels part of the established community. His sense of integration may reflect his experience of working in the forest. He spoke highly of the work he did, which permitted him intimate moments with nature outdoors in the landscape which he so clearly admired and appreciated. He had ‘never experienced the seasons in any other job apart from this one … you could tell the seasons were changing, you experienced it more, and I used to love that’.

He recalled having ‘one of the best jobs in the forestry commission … and I used to walk the hills … see things you never see now, black cock … and I used to love to see snipe here, … they go up, fly down, then tail feathers flutter … and that was the sound, the sound of summer and I used to be thrilled to bits’. Kielder’s environment, nature and landscape seemingly compensated for the negative aspects of living in a Forestry Commission village. In sharp contrast to other established residents, he believed community spirit had strengthened since the Forestry Commission’s withdrawal, Before it was a forestry commission village, and forestry ruled the roost and everything was done to their beck and call. … they used to run the village, it was their land, it was their houses, it was their road … and they ruled everything … they owned all business, the little shop up there, … the little café, they owned all the books, they wanted to own everything … all revolved around the forestry commission. There is an unmistakable social dichotomy of original forestry villagers and newcomers, underlining the importance of the length of time incomers have lived in the village and the nature of their work.

Kathy, an established resident, talked about this issue: A lot of the newcomers … come in and think that they would know better than people who have lived here for a lot of years, and they can do wonders, but they soon find out that things don’t move as quickly as in other areas. Others has come in and just … join in with what’s going on and try to improve gradually rather than make drastic changes that don’t work … some have fitted in, some haven’t. Another established resident and forestry worker, Simon, feels that the newcomers do not support much needed tourism: The forestry encourage events, the water authority [i.e. Northumbrian Water] encourage events, but some people that come into the village, they have a tendency not to support them … which is a little bit disappointing cos they came into the area knowing what it was like originally so they shouldn’t be trying to change it.

Terry, a self-employed businessman who moved to Kielder nine years ago, shared his thoughts on Kielder’s divisions: I feel part of certain parts of the village community, the village has several tribes, … and if you’re not … on one tribe then you’re not allowed to be on the other … it’s a bit like a soap opera, there isn’t … one big happy community where we all get on … there is a community, it’s quite a strong community but it’s got its own little factions Notably, Anthony, a retired forestry worker who moved to Kielder from Dover twenty years ago, also used the word ‘tribal’, linking it to local border reiver history: ‘it’s quite a bit tribal around here because there are … local families that were these … raiders … reivers … and the families are still here now’. The dichotomous composition of the village becomes even clearer when the interviewees’ first memories are categorised. Fig.

4: Categorised First Memories of Kielder Of the seven who cited the view of Kielder Forest and Water as they drove from Bellingham, three were newcomers, four never lived in the immediate Kielder area and none was an established resident. Newcomers retain a lasting impression of their first sight of the beautiful scenery, perhaps because that first view fuelled their desire to live and/or work in the area on a long-term basis. Unsurprisingly, all ten interviewees whose first memories are of childhood are established residents. Of the five interviewees whose first memory was of hospitality and strong community spirit, four are established residents and only one is a newcomer. Established residents recall primarily social, deeply entrenched and collective memories from which newcomers are more likely to be and perhaps even feel excluded.

Yvonne, the proprietor of the village tearoom, who has lived in Kielder all her life, recalled, Every … single house was a forestry commission employee and … everybody knew everybody whereas now there’s so many people have moved in so that you don’t probably know … a lot of people who live in the village … the numbers in the school have dwindled … there was always bingo and there was WI and there was crafts … whereas now … there’s not a great lot. And, Stevie, a forestry worker and established resident, remembered, It’s changed drastically. … There used to be loads of stuff going, y’know, village fairs, … village dances, and … because of legislation and costs and people coming into the village that we call outsiders, they’re not part of the village, they don’t want to be part of the village, they don’t, there isn’t a community anymore like there used to be because everybody knew everybody, everybody worked together and on a Thursday you got your pay, you went to the pub and you were all there wi’yah mates and now … there’s no community at all.

Moreover, Susan, who has lived in the area her whole life, recalled, We lived originally … in a little farm called Bewshaugh, which is now under the lake … just always loved playing down at ma first home … being outside playing in the … fields and the hay fields … when the hay’s been baled and getting told off for climbing on the stacks. Conversely, the newcomers tend to lack deep social roots in the area, they are arguably long-term tourists who have moved to the area primarily to enjoy Kielder’s tranquillity and beautiful landscape. Their exclusion from original villagers’ collective memories of childhood, hospitality, community and the forestry village, which still binds the remainder of that original community together, has created a divisive village today. Newcomers recall experiences of wildlife, the tranquil environment and the scenery, more physical aspects of the area. They have a close relationship with that environment, but the deep social histories and roots of their previous lives lie geographically elsewhere. Nevertheless, the newcomers’ relationship with the environment is still complex, powerful and important. Some newcomers moved to Kielder purposely from markedly different highly urbanised areas far afield as part of a major life change. Some newcomers experienced intense emotions as part of this process.

Steve, from London, who runs the village post office and store, moved to Kielder in 2005: I loved the area and I love this type of place … and it was like wow … and to the point of where, when I was driving here with my friend one Sunday afternoon … my legs were shaking because I was coming here and I thought I can’t believe … I was that giddy from coming here … that told me that I was doing the right thing. Steve’s wife, Julie, has similarly fond memories of moving to Kielder with their two young sons: I’ve lived in cities and towns, but … wouldn’t go back to that sort of life, it’s too busy, I love the quietness and the freedom the kids can have, I mean the forest is their playground, it’s fantastic … I don’t … miss … shopping, that doesn’t appeal at all anymore. Indeed, Anonymous C, now an established resident, once shared the newcomers’ dream himself as an urban inhabitant: My Mrs … on our days off … we used to go around the borders … and she used to always say would you like to live there in some pokey little house miles and miles away from anywhere?

… see a little white cottage ten mile away, and I used to say no way, no way and she thought it was great. Eventually, we came up to Kielder, and she talked is into it and I walked in to see the head man there at the time, just asked him for a job … so I rang him about every day for a fortnight … and he offered me a job and that was it. For many newcomers, Kielder represents a markedly different lifestyle, a widely shared stereotypical dream of and escape to a calmer, quieter life in a strong community enjoying closer contact with the natural environment, wildlife and a beautiful landscape. Thus, Kielder’s villagers can be split into three categories: those who were born there; those who have lived there for a long time and worked in forestry and the more recent incomers who have not worked in forestry. Perceptions of Environment Even people who have never lived in Kielder and are removed from Kielder’s social life, but who have worked in the area for many years, can develop and enjoy intimate long-term relationships with its environment and nature.

Tonia, who has worked for Northumbrian Water at Kielder for many years recalled visiting Kielder for the day from her home in Bellingham in the 1970s: With ma friend … we stopped off for our baite [i.e. snack] … and just admired the view … knowing that it was to change radically … with the construction of the reservoir, … just seeing the massive trees and the different farms and then trying to envisage how it would look … it was very difficult to picture that at that stage but I was obviously very very young then Similarly, Duncan Hutt, Head of Land Management at the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, has never lived in Kielder, but he values his experience of its wildlife, which has clearly shaped his life.

He recalled his happiest memories: Those little sort of moments that you’re driving through the forest and something, a bit of wildlife jumps out in front of you, … a red squirrel or even just a couple of roe deer … that you notice that sort of the secret life of Kielder, the goshawk flying down the forest right in front of you, … the unusual dragonfly … in the ponds … the relatively intimate moments with nature … the hen harriers over the top of the hills … displaying to each other … that actually become I suppose more memorable than the … general area which is … there day on day, year on year … whereas the wildlife is … a moment … to remember really. Ken, of Bellingham, taught Kielder’s children at Bellingham Middle School for many years.

He recalled: When the dam was built … my wife and I were in Carlisle to buy a bag of potatoes at an auction mart … we managed to buy this boat instead … and … I think we were virtually one of the first boats on Kielder water … we took out one of the local farmers on the lake, sailing down and he lived near Bull Crag, he says, “I recognise that, I recognise the fields from here”, he says “we must be about the top of my farm at the moment” and he was really, y’know, he thought it was great and I said “well what d’ya think, are you pleased you’re out of it?” oh, he says “yes, it was a hard life”. In 2000, Chris Smout, highlighted that Scotland’s visitor surveys of the 1990s demonstrate that scenery attracts tourists, noting the key words used: ‘wide open spaces’; ‘rugged landscapes’; ‘freedom, emptiness, isolation, peace, loneliness, variety [and] unspoilt countryside’.

[5] His comments on the words used can be compared and contrasted with the words used by interviewees in the Kielder project when they were asked to define the words ‘environment’, ‘nature’ and ‘landscape’. Fig. 5 shows the relative frequency of the words they used. Fig. 5: Frequency of Words used to define Environment’ (in 22 definitions) The words are striking, with ‘around us’ or ‘around you’ being the most commonly used, closely followed by ‘living’ or ‘live’ and ‘surroundings’. This suggests that people interviewed at Kielder see the environment as all-encompassing; and they see themselves as the central point around which their environment is arranged. The words ‘living’ or live’ suggest that people see their environment as something in which they live. Fig. 6: Frequency of Words used to Define ‘Nature’ (in 17 definitions) ‘Wildlife’, the most common word, excludes plant life. It was closely followed by ‘animals’ and ‘everything’.

The words ‘wildlife’ and ‘animals’ are unsurprising, but the use of the word ‘everything’ is surprising, suggesting they include themselves and their whole environment in their definition, thus highlighting a popular local perception that the whole environment at Kielder – with its artificial forest and lake – is ‘natural’. Fig. 7: Frequency of Words used to define ‘Landscape’ (in 15 definitions) When defining ‘landscape’, ‘look’ and ‘looking’ were most commonly used, suggesting that the interviewees conceived it as what they saw what it looked like. These definitions are specific to the thirty six interviewees at Kielder and are not necessarily representative of a larger population. Living and working in such a remote village and so closely with ‘nature’ could well blur the boundaries between the human and non-human worlds. For example, it would perhaps be unlikely that a Londoner would define ‘nature’ as ‘everything’. Moreover, the interviewees were aware that the landscape at Kielder is unusual and artificial in a British context.

Indeed, Duncan Hutt said that Kielder’s landscape, ‘the non-natural sort of conifer plantations’, is so unusual in Britain that ‘they’re almost like driving through a forest within North America or within Scandinavia’. The interviews also revealed generational differences in people’s perceptions of the ‘landscape’, which may have been shaped by their reactions to dramatic change in the area. Jonty Hall grew up at nearby Deadwater Farm, was selected from the pupils at Kielder First School to open the first dam at Bakethin reservoir in 1979, and is currently Northumbrian Water’s Leisure Department Coordinator at Kielder. He highlighted: For my grandparents or ma great grandparents, y’know, the forest being planted and the … outlook of the whole valley changing would have been a massive thing for them and then to then see that transformation again with the reservoir and like for me the reservoir … it’s natural because I can’t really remember the … valley before and for like my daughter, this again will be completely natural to her whereas for looking back to ma parents and ma grandparents … in the early stages it was very alien to them. Fig. 8: Interviewees’ Current Employment Fig.

9: Interviewees’ Employment The Forestry Commission employs a fraction of its previous workforce, but the interviewees who are still employed speak positively about mechanisation and their current work. Tom, an established resident who is currently employed by the Forestry Commission to operate a mechanical harvester, commented: There’s not the employment opportunities, but for those that do have their jobs, they work in quite a nice environment, sitting in these big machines [i.e. timber harvesters], … some of them’s fitted with six CD auto changers, you’ve got cool boxes for putting ya drinks in in the summer and you’ve got pie warmers. Tourism is a significant source of income in the local area, which has developed over the last two to three decades. However, work in tourism is largely seasonal and many hold multiple jobs to make ends meet. Carl Garsman, of neighbouring Falstone village, has three part-time jobs: as a barman, a cleaner and a waiter. Kielder Limited [6] was set up to boost the village economy by providing several affordable houses to retain and attract young families, building some commercial workshops, keeping the petrol station open, developing the campsite and transforming the community centre into a Youth Hostel.

When the village enjoyed full employment, several women undertook paid forestry work. Hazel, now a Housekeeper for Northumbrian Water, recalled: We used to go about with an axe and we used to take a slither off the tree, y’know a slither of bark, just to count it, and we were classed as markers or tariffers as they’re called … it was quite nice for a woman. Similarly, Yvonne recalled how she and other women ‘marked the trees … [and] counted them for the men to fell’. Alf recalled working practices and attitudes to women in the 1940s: The ground was drained … by hand and the turfs out of the drains we used upside down and a tree planted in the top and the tree was planted back, and that’s the way they grew. … during the war and after the war, they brought in ploughs and tractors, and … threw out a furrow every five foot or so it would be.

… I remember when I went at the end of the war, the land army they had just the turf to plough, plant on the turf with the tractors and they used to plant far too close, typical women, wouldn’t put their feet out. In 1932, six-year-old Alf Weir disembarked the train at the head of what was to become Castle Drive with his family and his dog. His father, Alec Weir, who was a forester, requested a move from Camarthenshire, South Wales. He went to Kielder to oversee the initial stages of large-scale planting. Alf recalled his mother’s first impression of the area and her question, ‘where the God have I got to?’ as she absorbed the view of Ravenshill, the church and the station coach house, but little else. They then walked to their house near the viaduct and close to a bothy inhabited by forestry workers. Regular visiting grocery vans obviated permanent shops and Alf recalled the forestry workers giving him pennies to buy sweets from the travelling stores.

Alf attended Kielder school and remembers how ‘the children used to come from quite some miles … on ponies, and they used to … stable them in Bewshaugh Farm’. Alf also recalls planting some trees with his father, which survive today: ‘three or four trees doun the road there, there’s one Douglas-fir on its own in the junction of Castle Drive and the bypass that I held while he planted and … further down there’s a red oak and further on there’s a … thury, and a … sitka spruce’. Alf eventually became Head Forrester and has been a witness to the dramatic changes in the environment at Kielder over his life. Conclusion The project revealed much about how the dramatic environmental changes affected people’s lives and how they were involved in them. Few residents recall the time before the start of the forestry plantation in the 1920s, but a few older members of the community, for example, Alf Weir, were able to shed light on the expansion of the forest from the 1930s.

Others provided us with some valuable insights into attitudes towards the building of the dam, the creation of the reservoir and the transformation of the area into a major centre for tourism and recreation. We also learned a great deal about the enormous changes in the Forestry Commission’s working practices as technological advances have enabled greater levels of mechanisation in harvesting operations. Recording the interviews has created a valuable source of information about people’s experiences of living and working in a remote rural area that has gone through immense changes in its living memory. The answers to the questions were divided more so by the length of time that the interviewees had lived in the area than they were by their current or previous employers, as might have been expected. The interviews contain a great deal of insight and information from a diverse and representative range of people who have lived in, worked in and experienced Kielder’s environment, landscape, recreational facilities and Kielder village over the course of their lives. The interviews demonstrate the value of oral history as they contain insights that no other source of information could provide.

Together they form an important bank of information which will be used to deepen academic and wider understandings of the impact of the dramatic changes, and the involvement in them of the local population, which have occurred in and around Kielder over the course of the twentieth century that continue to this day. Listen to podcast episode where Leona Skelton and David Moon are discussing the result of the oral history project. Northumbrian Water - Kielder Article Target Page Kielder Article Target Page Eyes to the sky for famous bird 25 March 2014 Wildlife lovers in Northumberland are being urged to look to the sky for signs of incoming ospreys. Image: A Kielder osprey guards its nest high above England′s largest working forest.(Credit Forestry Commission England) The iconic species – which was extinct in England for over 150 years – has bred successfully in Kielder Water & Forest Park every season since it returned to the North East in 2009. Last year, the rare birds even produced four bouncy chicks from two nests – a record number since their return.

Now the clock is ticking down on the much anticipated return of the adult birds, with the male hopefully arriving back this week and the female following soon after for a romantic reunion. Kelly Hollings, Estates Officer from Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s very exciting and we’re looking forward to our birds returning again this year. “According to a birding website there has already been an osprey sighting reported at Kielder on 25 February. This was the first sighting of an osprey in the UK but local staff and enthusiasts have yet to spot one. Let’s hope 2014 is a successful breeding year for these magnificent birds.” At over 250 square miles, the mix of forest and water is perfect for the species. The ospreys feast on trout from the largest man-made lake in northern Europe, Kielder Water, and nest among England’s largest working forest. Cameras installed by the Forestry Commission in two out of four of the nesting platforms, will beam footage into Kielder Castle and Northumbrian Water’s Leaplish Waterside Park for visitors to enjoy.

Elisabeth Rowark, Director of Kielder Water & Forest Park, added: “The ospreys and the Kielder Osprey Watch are a huge hit with visitors to the area. “It’s fantastic that we had a record number of birds fledge the nest last year and even more exciting, in December, a chick which fledged from Kielder in 2012 was spotted in its wintering grounds in Senegal, Africa. Fingers crossed their success story will continue.” Kielder Osprey Watch is organised by Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, with support from the RSPB. The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest site. To find out more, go to . To post osprey sightings go to the VisitKielder Facebook page at or the Visitkielder twitter feed at . You can also keep up to date with the ospreys at .

For more information contact Janine Scott, communications advisor (Kielder Water & Forest Park), on 0191 301 5538 or janine.scott@nwl.co.uk . 1. Historically ospreys lived in Northumberland, hunting on the once extensive network of marshes. However, records going back more than 200 years fail to mention any ospreys breeding in the county. Ospreys were once distributed widely, but persecution resulted in the species becoming extinct in England as a breeding bird in 1847 and in Scotland in 1916. Some birds re-colonised in Scotland in 1954 and by 2001 there were nearly 160 breeding pairs (today about 200). The same year saw the first successful osprey nests in England for 160 years by re-colonising birds in the Lake District and re-introduced ones at Rutland Water in the East Midlands. 2. Osprey Fact File: • Ospreys are migratory and arrive in late March and April and leave again for Africa in August and September.

• The bird is an Amber List species because of its historical decline (due to illegal killing and egg theft) and low breeding numbers. • Ospreys normally breed for the first time when they are aged between 4-5 years old. • They are largely monogamous and faithful both to nest and mate. • The nest is generally built on the top of a large tree. • Females lay two or three eggs at 1-3 day intervals which are incubated for about 38 - 42 days per egg. • Ospreys divide the nesting duties between the pair. The female does most of the incubating, brooding and direct feeding of the young. She guards them throughout the nesting period and will share the hunting at later stages when the chicks are larger. The male is the major provider of fish for the female and chicks. • Chicks fledge about seven weeks after hatching. 3. Kielder Water & Forest Park, which spans 250 square miles, is home to the largest working forest in England and the largest man-made lake in northern Europe.

It was awarded the number one tourism experience in England by VisitEngland 2013, and the most tranquil place in England by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Together with Northumberland National Park, it was granted gold tier Dark Sky Park status in December 2013. For more information see . 4. Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust is a registered charity working at Kielder to promote sustainable development, provide recreational facilities, improve knowledge of the natural environment and encourage the arts. The Trust works with the range of communities to benefit from these activities. Members, who have appointed directors/trustees to serve on the board, are Northumbrian Water, Forestry Commission, Calvert Trust Kielder and Northumberland County Council. Affiliate organisations that are not members but have a close working relationship with KWFPDT include Arts Council England, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, The Scout Association and local decision making bodies such as the parish councils. 5. Northumberland Wildlife Trust is the largest environmental charity in the region working to safeguard native wildlife. One of 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK, Northumberland Wildlife Trust has campaigned for nature conservation for over 40 years.

It aims to inform, educate and involve people of all ages and backgrounds in protecting their environment in favour of wildlife and conservation. Supported by over 13,000 individual and 56 corporate members in the Region, Northumberland Wildlife Trust manages and protects critical species and habitats at over 60 nature reserves throughout Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. 6. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands. Further information can be found at . Home > Where to go > Kielder and Border Forest > Kielder Water & Forest Park tourist information Winner of England's best tourism experience - Visit England Awards 2013 Home to northern Europe’s largest man-made lake and England's largest forest, Kielder Water & Forest Park is one of Northumberland's best attractions. It is perfect for individuals or families that love nature, water sports, exploring, walking, cycling and much more.

Tower Knowe visitors centre at Kielder Kielder Water & Forest Park features mile upon mile of purpose-built trails including forest walks for all the family and dedicated mountain bike tracks. The Lakeside Way is a 26 mile multi-user trail, suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users, that encircles the shoreline of Kielder Water. A haven for wildlife , Kielder Water & Forest Park is also home to around 50% of England’s native red squirrel population. In 2009 three chicks were born to a record breaking osprey couple - the first birds for at least 200 years to successfully raise chicks in Northumberland. So far they have returned to breed every year since. You can also spot see a range of rare wildlife including the Kielder Super Six: osprey, red squirrel, pipistrelle bat, roe deer, salmon and otter. Waterskiing and sailing enthusiasts take to the water all year round and the lake offers a huge challenge to keen trout anglers between March and October.

You can discover all you need to know about Kielder Water & Forest Park including its history at Tower Knowe Visitor Centre or visit Kielder Castle , the former hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland, which now hosts a visitor centre, art gallery and exhibitions. Leaplish Waterside Park boasts luxury self catering forest lodges, an indoor heated swimming pool and sauna, restaurant and bar and the Kielder Water Birds of Prey Centre. Cycling around Kielder Water Visitors to Kielder lodges at Leaplish Waterside Park have access to professional training and tuition for a range of mainstream sporting activities to suit everyone as part of a ‘go active’ break. Activities include: archery and junior archery, fencing, crossbow, table tennis, snorkelling, FUNdamentals (gymnastics for young children), sea scooters (underwater propellers to power around the pool), disc golf (launch specially designed frisbees into targets across a large outdoor course), petanque (a form of boules), short mat bowls (indoor bowls for all the family), water walkerz (walk on water in the pool inside a floating inflatable ball) and skip-hop (skipping and hip-hop dance moves).

Famed for having the darkest night skies in England thanks to minimal light pollution, Kielder Water & Forest Park is a star gazers’ heaven and is home to the Kielder Observatory alongside Northumberland National Park who is seeking Dark Sky Reserve Status, KW&FP is currently in the process of bidding for Dark Sky Park Status. If successful, together they will create the world’s third largest area of protected starry skies. For more information click here . Kielder Observatory There is also contemporary art and architecture including the futuristic shelter design of the Belvedere , the Minotaur maze and Silvas Capitalis, also known as the ‘giant forest head’. Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to spending a day trip, weekend break or holiday in what the Campaign to Protect Rural England calls the most tranquil spot in the country. Also of interest Kielder Circuit | gannin oot fre a ride….. gannin oot fre a ride….. Posted on July 27, 2014 by brian on the Kielder Circuit….. A cracking summer’s day, I decide to head up the road to Kielder to spin the pedals.

Kielder is situated in the county of Northumberland, bordering Scotland. Kielder water is the largest artificial lake in the U.k. and is surrounded by Kielder forest which happens to be the largest man-made forest in Europe. So plenty of scope for adventure. But today I took the easy option of the family ride around the lake itself, leaving some of the more strenuous trails for another day. The circuit around the lake weaves for 26 miles in and out of woodland and along the shores on a well maintained track, past a variety of sculptures, fantastic views and perfect picnic spots. If you get lucky you may get a glimpse of a Red Squirrel or even an Adder basking in the sun… Adder on the track…… PoSHHuts, Hexham, Northumberland - Pitchup.com Northumberland Local attractions In a beautiful and private rural setting in the heart of Northumberland National Park and next to Kielder Water, PoSHHuts shepherd's huts are a peaceful retreat away from busy everyday life.

Sit back and watch the stars - Northumberland National Park was awarded Dark Sky Park status in December 2013 and is now Europe's largest, and nearby Kielder Observatory has regular events for the astronomically inclined. The site's huts are in their own gardens overlooking woodland and river for a glamping and romantic hideaway. They come with chandeliers, plenty of space, a comfy settee, kingsize bed, woodburning stove, fully fitted bespoke design kitchen (with small oven and fridge) and a luxurious large ensuite shower. Services that can be booked on arrival include: - Welcome breakfast pack or PoSHHnosh breakfast option (order direct) - PoSHHuts pre-prepared evening menu (PoSHHnosh delivered to your hut - just needs heating). Site type Visit website Share this site Kielder Water is the largest artificial lake in the UK. It and Kielder Forest have a host of activities including fishing (stillwater and river), sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, walking, mountain biking and 4x4 safari.

We are just 15 minutes from the Pennine Way, 30 minutes from Hadrian's Wall, 30 minutes from Scotland and right in the middle of 'England's last wilderness', with the Dark Skies Kielder Observatory with many regular events. Must see Housesteads Roman Fort (12.3 miles) Vindolanda (Chesterholm) Hadrian's Wall (13.4 miles) Birdoswald Roman Fort (14.7 miles) National Trust Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort (12.5 miles) Allen Banks and Staward Gorge (15.3 miles) Cycle routes Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes. Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel. Camping 2.0 Shepherd's huts Ordnance Survey maps (GB and Northern Ireland only) are available at lower levels via the drop-down menu.

Falstone Farm Hexham, Northumberland, England, NE48 1AA GPS 55.1797°N 2.4365°W Nearest transport Rochester (Northumb): Redesdale Arms Coach Stop — 9.4 miles Coach Station 9.4 miles Rochester Northumberland: Village Coach Stop — 9.4 miles Coach Station 9.4 miles Cottonshopeburn: nr Forest Drive Coach Stop — 9.5 miles Coach Station Bardon Mill Rail Station — 14.6 miles Rail Station 14.6 miles Haltwhistle Rail Station — 14.7 miles Rail Station 14.7 miles Haydon Bridge Rail Station — 16.0 miles Rail Station Tower Knowe Ferry Landing — 1.5 miles Ferry Ports 1.5 miles Belvedere Ferry Landing — 2.5 miles Ferry Ports 2.5 miles Leaplish Ferry Landing — 3.9 miles Ferry Ports Newcastle International Airport — 30.4 miles Airports 30.4 miles Get directions From the A1 Follow the A69 and then the A68 in the direction of Kielder Water.

At Bellingham, turn onto the C200 and arrive at Falstone on the right after the Pheasant Inn at Stannersburn on the left. Drive past the Blackcock Country Inn on the right and turn down the lane on the right after the church but before the railway bridge. Follow signs to the guest car park. Park on the left - follow signs to your hut. Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above. Find nearby sites with availability… Arrive: Lodge, cabin, pod or hut Caravan for hire Tipi, yurt, wigwam, dome, bell tent Click/tap once to select your first day, and again for your departure day. Adults Child ages Booking as a group? Many sites set a maximum occupancy of 6/8 people per pitch, so try breaking your booking down into smaller groups to generate more results. For example, if you’re a group of 10, enter 5 people in your initial search and then book 2 pitches.

However, where the pitch or accommodation occupancy allows it, you can now make a booking for up to 30 adults and 30 children on one pitch. To book multiple pitches or accommodation, use the 'Special requests' box on the booking page to ask to be sited together. Complete the booking form for the first booking (you can add a password and save your card so that we remember your details). Then click "Make another booking like this" at the top of the confirmation page to make the next booking. Large groups: check the listing page for any group restrictions set out in the terms and section titled ‘Please note’. Large tents/caravans: check the restrictions on unit dimensions to ensure your unit is suitable for the space you will be provided with. Cycling tracks in the region Must-see attractions Kielder Caravan Park | Caravan & Camping in Kielder | Kielder Water and Forest Park Overview Book online at: Kielder Caravan Park, part of Leaplish Waterside Park, offers pitches for both touring caravans and motor homes. The caravan park is a perfect base to enjoy your visit to Kielder Water & Forest Park in the heart of Northumberland.

58 hard standing pitches are available with superb forest views and some overlooking Kielder Water – the largest man-made lake in Northern Europe. Kielder Caravan Park is currently shut for winter and will reopen in May 2017. Pitches can be booked online or by calling 01434 251 000. On-site facilities include: Electric hook ups TV aerial points Laundry room with washing machines, dryers and irons Disabled toilet and shower facilities Pets welcome with Dog walks on site/adjacent, Many cycling and walking routes around Kielder Water & Forest Park Motor caravan waste point Seasonal pitches are also available A range of facilities including, indoor pool and sauna, Birds of Prey Centre, restaurant and bar and shop are also available on-site at Leaplish Waterside Park. To find out more about other activities available including archery, fencing and Water walkerz! Pitches information

Question: Kielder Water is the largest artificial lake in the UK. In which county would you find it?
Answer: Northumberland